Biography and education
2016 PhD, Department of Geography, University of Oregon
Dissertation—Understanding Hydropower in China, Balancing Energy
Security, Development and Environmental Sustainability in the Nu River
Valley of Yunnan Province
2010 M.A, Department of Geography, University of Oregon
2007 B.Sc. Hons, Macquarie University, Sydney
2006 B.Sc., Macquarie University, Sydney
Dissertation—Understanding Hydropower in China, Balancing Energy
Security, Development and Environmental Sustainability in the Nu River
Valley of Yunnan Province
2010 M.A, Department of Geography, University of Oregon
2007 B.Sc. Hons, Macquarie University, Sydney
2006 B.Sc., Macquarie University, Sydney
Teaching Interests
Research Interests
Featured grants
- Ptak, Thomas Walter. Multi-Criteria Analysis of Climate-Related Hazards and Compounding Risks for Vulnerable Populations across Central Texas, Division of Research, Texas State University, $6560. (Submitted: 2024, Funded: 2025). Grant.
- Speed, Jennifer (Principal), Hwang, Sangchul Scott (Co-Principal), Ptak, Thomas Walter (Co-Principal), Yeon, Jung Heum (Co-Principal), Pemberton, Sue Ann (Co-Principal). Wilson Historic District Energy and Water Conservation Study, Meadows Foundation, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $150000. (Funded: December 10, 2024 - May 31, 2025). Grant.
- Ptak, Thomas Walter. New Modes of Energy Security, Charles Koch Foundation, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $54000. (Funded: 2020 - 2021). Grant.
- Ptak, Thomas Walter. Stakeholder Interest Framework for Western United States Irrigation Modernization, United States Geological Survey, Federal, $36069.37. (Funded: 2020). Grant.
- Ptak, Thomas Walter. Interdisciplinary Grant, University of Idaho College of Letters Arts and Social Sciences, Institutional (Higher Ed), $9879. (Funded: 2019). Grant.
Featured scholarly/creative works
- Ptak, T. W. (2025). A systematic review and typology of power outage literature: Critical infrastructure, climate change and social impacts. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 218. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2025.115778
- Ptak, T. W. (2025). Repositioning energy geographies in a time of crisis: Arguments from a subdiscipline on the margins of geography. Dialogues in Human Geography. https://doi.org/DOI: 10.1177/20438206251316025
- Ptak, T. W., Crootof, A., Harlan, T., & Kelly, S. (2022). Critically analyzing the purported global “boom” in small hydropower development through spatial and temporal analysis. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 163. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112490
- Abatzoglou, J. T., Smith, C. M., Swain, D. L., Ptak, T. W., & Kolden, C. A. (2020). Population exposure to pre-emptive de-energization aimed at averting wildfires in Northern California. Environmental Research Letters, 15(9). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aba135
- Radil, S. M., Castan Pinos, J., & Ptak, T. W. (2020). Borders resurgent: towards a post-Covid-19 global border regime? Space and Polity, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562576.2020.1773254
Featured awards
- Award / Honor Recipient: Favorite Professor Award, Alpha Chi Honor Society. 2024
- Award / Honor Recipient: Most inspirational faculty member, Department of Geography and Geological Sciences, University of Idaho. May 2021
- Award / Honor Recipient: Recognition Award, Asian Geography Specialty Group. 2016
- Award / Honor Recipient: Best Panel Award, University of Oregon Graduate School Research Forum. 2015
- Award / Honor Recipient: President’s Award for best PhD Student Paper, Association of Pacific Coast Geographers. 2014
Featured service activities
- University Mentor
Renewable Energy Association
- Member
Climate Action Task Force: American Association of Geographers
- Member
Center for Advanced Energy Studies, Energy Policy Institute
- Chair
Alumni Committee
- Member
Graduate Committee
- Member
Associate/Full Professor of Geographic Education Search Committee